Post AVSYwpRVAwZe47zI92 by melissadancey@mastodon.au
(DIR) More posts by melissadancey@mastodon.au
(DIR) Post #AVS2S5JIvsItlhRvxQ by lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org
2023-05-08T16:56:58Z
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No doubt they're safer than what the U.S. uses, but UK electric plugs are ridiculously large.
(DIR) Post #AVS2diWLUQ8oYw61su by chris_e_simpson@hachyderm.io
2023-05-08T16:59:01Z
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@lauren not sure about safer given they are twice the voltage and by how much they hurt when you accidentally step on one.
(DIR) Post #AVS2pouNZB0Dqf6oTI by atanas@mastodon.cloud
2023-05-08T17:01:11Z
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@lauren They need to be safer because the UK uses 220V AC vs 110V in the US.
(DIR) Post #AVS3JfigIITe2Os6im by lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org
2023-05-08T17:06:36Z
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@atanas Well, this is a controversial issue. You can find technical discussions that go both ways. If everything else was equal, sure 220 is more dangerous. But everything else isn't usually equal, and *amperage* is a critical factor. You can get killed by 220, or by 117, or even lower voltages, if the amperage is high enough and/or the placement is bad. Actually, far more important overall is likely widespread use of GFCIs.
(DIR) Post #AVS4yAPbhSFWlXp6mm by markusl@fosstodon.org
2023-05-08T17:24:54Z
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@laurenRight. Because our voltage is higher (230v +10%/-6%) we have stricter rules about where switches and mains sockets can be placed. I was astonished and rather unnerved when I visited California and found a mains socket just above a handbasin. That would never be allowed here, RCCB or no! @atanas
(DIR) Post #AVS54sGnYANoWgtwoK by rundmcollie@mastodonapp.uk
2023-05-08T17:26:01Z
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@lauren US plugs scare me❗️
(DIR) Post #AVS9OEoGN6Jxkc2jIW by jay_chi@mastodon.social
2023-05-08T18:14:30Z
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@lauren https://youtu.be/UEfP1OKKz_Q
(DIR) Post #AVSDWpWc9G3Lkr8m0m by nfgusedautoparts@en.osm.town
2023-05-08T19:01:02Z
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@lauren they're pretty well thought out. they cannot, for example, be used w/o a proper ground.
(DIR) Post #AVSH9U85vho8YPnN7g by MechanicalTurk@home.social
2023-05-08T19:41:40Z
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@lauren everything in British power infrastructure and construction standards is designed around a singular focus: delivering the maximum power output to an electrical plug in the kitchen, so as to boil water for a cup of tea in as little time as possible.The size of the plug doesn't factor in to that at all.It might not be pretty but at least you don't have to start heating your water in the morning if you want a cup of tea in the evening like you do with 110V electrical kettles in the US.
(DIR) Post #AVSOLArY5YcLx9ZqFs by idiot@mastodonapp.uk
2023-05-08T21:02:03Z
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@lauren they are ridiculously large. You'd expect a connector this size for 200A at a kV or so.But it's essentially WW II technology. Look at the size of a WW2 field telephone!The earth pin driving the shutter was a brilliant invention, as was shaping the plug so that the cable always hangs straight down.
(DIR) Post #AVSYwpRVAwZe47zI92 by melissadancey@mastodon.au
2023-05-08T23:00:50Z
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@lauren I think they are the same size as Australian plugs. But our plugs are not compatible UK. Even when Australia and UK have and use the same voltage as the UK.
(DIR) Post #AVSjPWJIO4R4fQT8eO by wendyg@mastodon.xyz
2023-05-09T00:58:02Z
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@lauren and incredibly painful if you step on them.
(DIR) Post #AVSjYSw6IkeYoCsx3A by lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org
2023-05-09T00:59:53Z
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@wendyg Yeah, I can see that. Less likely to get the prongs upright on most U.S. plugs!